Operational Infrastructure News

The maritime industry’s movement toward remote vessel operations will not only build a more diverse workforce, it will benefit from it, argues marine robotics company Ocean Infinity.Greater workforce diversity, whether it be considered along lines of ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, age, socioeconomic status, neurotype, physical ability or any other parameter, has shifted over the course of the last decade from a ‘nice to have’ to a fundamental value. The modern view of society that the thought leaders at Ocean Infinity subscribe to, is often characterized as ‘intersectionality’.

Armach Robotics announced it has promoted its operations VP John Dunn to chief operating officer.Armach, which uses small autonomous robots to keep ships clean and collect hull data that can inform future maintenance and operations, hired Dunn when the company was launched in late 2021, as a spin-off company by marine software company Greensea Systems.In his new role, Dunn continues to play a central role in further developing and overseeing Armach’s ongoing business operations.

The marine fuel market is undergoing significant change. Following the implementation and impact of IMO 2020, we’re now seeing the focus shift to low and zero carbon fuels, and an expansion of other marine fuel options, predominantly driven by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) impending 2030 and 2050 decarbonization targets. With heavy fuel oil (HFO) the dominant fuel type in the maritime sector since the 1960s, there is no question that such incredible change to…

German fleet operator SAL Heavy Lift has hired Inatech, a unit of Glencore, to ensure compliance with new low-sulphur emissions rules and optimize bunker strategies.Inatech has seen increased onboarding of its ‘Smart Trader’ app, which enables companies to map entire fleets of ships and visualize and plan for best port to bunker given sea and port conditions to achieve lowest prices for the desired quality of fuel. SAL Heavy Lift will apply Smart Trader across parent group Harren…

At the SMM 2016 in Hamburg, Transas CEO Frank Coles delivered the company's standpoint on the future of maritime operations. “However, it is has manifested as a picture of uncoordinated fragmented promises that lacks a structure and platform. Shipping needs a solution not an application. Shipping operations is the complete picture not just the smart phone,” he continued. Coles made the statements when talking about the power and potential of the Transas Harmonized Eco System of Integrated Solutions (THESIS).

Today's maritime industry requires realistic solutions and concepts for a modern, integrated operational infrastructure that delivers a sustainable, viable future, says Transas, a developer and supplier of a wide range of IT solutions for the marine industry. Whether an autonomous ship or not, the maritime sector needs an infrastructure solution that will enhance and support our human element and enable operations. Transas CEO Frank Coles will deliver insight and practical innovation for the future of maritime operations during a special presentation on Tuesday, September 6 at SMM Hamburg.

The Ship Information Management System (SIMS) jointly developed by NYK and the Monohakobi Technology Institute has been recognized with a special award from the Japan Institute of Navigation. An awards ceremony was held on July 27, 2015, and attended by Koichi Akamine, NYK senior managing corporate officer; Makoto Igarashi, president of MTI; and Hideyuki Ando, a senior general manager at MTI. The Japan Institute of Navigation is a public incorporated association for the purpose of contributing to the academic advance of navigation. This special award is bestowed for achievements in practical fields related to navigation, and this year marks the 13th time the annual award has been presented.

Global ocean transport operator AAL today announced plans to increase the size of its fleet to over 500,000 dwt in 2015. Comprising owned and chartered vessels, the move will add needed capacity to the multi-purpose sector’s youngest and most advanced fleet, in support of growing global demand, the company said. The company also announced it had doubled revenues in the past two years, increased its market share in core regions and grown from an Austral-Asian carrier to a global operator with the expansion of its fleet, trade routes, services and operational infrastructure.

The Panama Canal celebrated its 15 year anniversary under the leadership of the Panamanian Administration. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. Since 1999, the Canal has invested $2.4 billion in projects aimed at updating its operational infrastructure and has acquired new equipment, guaranteeing its clients an efficient, safe, reliable and competitive service. During fiscal year 2014 (Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept.

The EU's TEN-T Program will back the upgrade of the existing sea line between Nantes St-Nazaire, France and Vigo, Spain with over €3.5 million to ensure reliable and frequent shipping service of cargo transport. The alternative sea route is expected to help reduce road traffic and air pollution, leading to a fully operational infrastructure by late 2015. The new service started operations this year with three rotations per week. A fourth rotation will be added by July 2016 when occupancy ratios are satisfactory. The line's upgrade consists of increasing the infrastructure's capacity and improving the interface between the sea terminals and their hinterland connections.

Swire Oilfield Services, global supplier of cargo carrying solutions, modular systems, offshore aviation services and fluid management says it plans to further invest in Southeast Asia with the development of three new operational yards and the arrival of new rental equipment to its fleet. The company, which established its first Southeast Asia base in Singapore in 2010 and has since opened further bases across the region, is the largest supplier of DNV certified cargo carrying units in the Southeast Asia market. To better meet increasing customer demand in the region, the company has invested more than $10 million USD by expanding its cargo carrying unit rental fleet and further developing operating bases in Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand.

Coatings specialist says it draws on local production network and highly experienced team to deliver high specification products for local utility project. PPG Protective and Marine Coatings announced completion of a major project for Africa Pipe Industries, supplying internal and external coatings on a 46km, 2.1m diameter pipeline installed for South African utility Rand Water. PPG supplied SIGMALINE 523 as an internal lining and SIGMALINE 855 as an external coating on the pipe installed at Sasolburg in the Free State region. Together, the coatings deliver high performance protection of both surfaces against corrosion and contamination of the pipeline content.

The Panama Canal is celebrating 13 years under Panamanian administration. During this period, the Canal has strengthened its role in international commerce as a result of investment in the modernization of its infrastructure, its expansion and an alliance with its natural surroundings. “The Panama Canal reaffirms its relevance in international commerce more than ever as a result of the decisions and actions that Panamanians have taken with regard to its management,” said Panama Canal Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano.